Cambridge Starters Grammar is a fundamental building block for young learners preparing for the Pre A1 Starters exam—the first level in the Cambridge English Young Learners (YLE) system. This exam assesses the early English skills of children aged 4 to 7, focusing on essential grammar structures.
To help parents and teachers support children’s learning, FLYER has compiled a comprehensive list of key grammar topics covered in the Cambridge Starters Grammar framework. Let’s dive in and explore them!
1. Common grammar structures in Starters exams
For children, grammar is often considered a boring topic. However, Cambridge Starters Grammar includes only a few essential topics; keeping it simple and focused on short, easy-to-understand structures. Here are 23 common grammar structures in the Starters Cambridge exam:
23 most common Cambridge Starters grammar topics:
Note:
- N: noun
- adj: adjective
- to V: infinitive verb with “to”
- V-ing: gerund verb
| No. | Cambridge Starters grammar topic | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Singular and Plural Nouns (including irregular plurals, countable and uncountable nouns, and names) | – Would you like an orange? – Lemons are yellow. – Pat has six mice. – I eat rice for lunch. – Anna is my friend. |
| 2 | Adjectives – Possessive adjectives | – He’s a small boy. – His name is Bill. |
| 3 | Articles | – It’s a banana. – This is an apple. – Put the hat on the boy’s head. – I want some milk. – These books are blue. |
| 4 | Pronouns (including demonstrative pronouns, personal pronouns, possessive pronouns, question pronouns, and “one”) | – This is my car. – Can you see me? – Which is Anna? – Would you like an egg? – Yes, please. I’d like one. – This is mine! – Is that yours? |
| 5 | Verbs Present Simple TensePresent Continuous Tense (not indicating future)Can (indicating ability; making requests/permissions)Have (got) (indicating possession) | – Nick is happy. – I don’t like eggs. – Eat your lunch! – Is that your sister? – Yes, it is. – What are you doing? – The cat’s sleeping. – The baby can wave. – Can I have some birthday cake? – Have you got a pen? – She hasn’t got a dog. |
| 6 | Adverbs (Adverbs of manner/ place/ time/ degree) | – I’m coloring it now. – My grandma lives here. – She lives here too. |
| 7 | Conjunctions (and, but, or, because, so) | – I’ve got a pen and a pencil. – It’s sunny, so I put my hat on. – She’s small, but she’s strong. |
| 8 | Prepositions of Place and Time | – Put the clock next to the picture. – We go to school in the morning. |
| 9 | Interrogative Words | – Who is that man? – Where is Alex? |
| 10 | The pronoun “you” (as a subject and an object) | – How do you spell that? – This is for you. |
| 11 | Have + something + to V | Lucy has a book to read. |
| 12 | Gerund (as a subject, after preposition, after like/ love/ hate) | – Swimming is good. – I like reading. – She is good at dancing. |
| 13 | Let’s + V | – Let’s go to the zoo! |
| 14 | Like + Ving | – I like dancing. – She likes drinking coffee. |
| 15 | There is/ There are | – There is a monkey in the tree. – There are some books on the table. |
| 16 | Would like + N/ to V | – I would like some grapes. – Would you like to color that ball? |
| 17 | Happy Birthday! | – You’re eight today! Happy Birthday! |
| 18 | Here you are | A: Would you like an apple?B: Yes, please. A: Here you are. |
| 19 | Me too | A: I like football. B: Me too. |
| 20 | So do I | A: I love hippos. B: So do I. |
| 21 | a story about + V-ing | – This is a story about playing football. |
| 22 | What (a/an) + adj + N | – What a good dog! – What a beautiful fish! |
| 23 | What now? | A: Put the egg in the box. B: OK! The egg is in the box. What now? |
Parents can access the official Pre A1 Starters Digital Preparation from Cambridge to explore more grammar and vocabulary topics for the Cambridge Starters exam.
Additionally, to help children immediately apply Cambridge Starters Grammar topics, parents can access Learning Management System and Gamification content FLYER and explore these two special features:
- FLYER Bingo: Practice speaking with a virtual tutor through daily conversations.
- AI Speaking: Simulate the Starters exam speaking test and receive instant feedback from AI.
FLYER Bingo A.I. Application:
With the support of AI, children receive real-time feedback, reinforcing their understanding of grammar structures while practicing speaking.
Notice: In 2025, the Cambridge Starters Digital exam has already been implemented in several countries. Apart from delivering results faster, there is no difference between the YLE Digital and the traditional YLE exam.
Read more: Pre A1 Cambridge Starters exam format, study materials, and easy exam preparation
2. Practice Cambridge Starters Grammar
3. 600+ Starters practice tests online
The FLYER Virtual English Testing Platform currently offers over 600 Cambridge exam preparation sets across different levels, including Starters, Movers, and Flyers, covering all sections of Listening, Reading & Writing, and Speaking. This ensures that children experience the most authentic exam preparation and complete it.
- Each test is designed to closely match Cambridge’s latest format (up to 90%).
- The automated scoring system and detailed answer keys help students review and improve efficiently from home.
- Interactive exercises and game-based simulations enhance children’s cognitive skills and make learning more engaging.
- Challenges with friends, bite-sized practice exercises, and vocabulary reviews add excitement, keeping kids motivated throughout their learning journey.
Moreover, a helpful feature for parents is the Learning Report, which makes it easy to track the progress of their children’s studies. The system automatically stores all test results and uses them to provide feedback on the student’s current proficiency level, strengths, and areas that require improvement.
More significantly, parents who use FLYER’s virtual testing platform can save up to 80% on their kids’ exam preparation expenses!
Conclusion
This is a list of common grammar structures encountered in the Starters Cambridge exam, along with some sample materials to assist teachers, parents, and children in preparing for the exam effectively. FLYER hopes this information proves beneficial throughout the preparation process!
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